Advancing M-MAP with DIGITAL

Originally developed by a consortium led by Teck Resources, the Mining Microbiome Analytics Platform (M-MAP) is now being advanced and commercialized under the nPhyla brand. With support from the Digital Supercluster, the platform—representing the largest coordinated investment in natural resource genomic sequencing to date—is being scaled to serve industry needs across mining and adjacent sectors. M-MAP was developed in collaboration with UBC’s Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals & Mining (BRIMM), BGC Engineering, Allonnia, Koonkie Canada, the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), Genome BC, and Rio Tinto. Over two years, the team collected and analyzed DNA from more than 15,000 soil, water, and rock samples across mining environments.

The platform integrates genomic, geospatial, climate, and chemical data into a unified system to uncover microbes that could replace energy-intensive chemical processes in extraction and remediation. M-MAP’s goal is to accelerate biomining deployment, reduce costs, and provide secure, collaborative access to data—via nPhyla—for the mining industry and research community.

The implications of M-MAP extend well beyond mining. The data architecture and analytical tools developed through this initiative have the potential to unlock applications in adjacent sectors such as wastewater treatment, agriculture, and carbon sequestration. By offering a flexible, scalable platform for environmental DNA analysis, nPhyla is helping industries shift from reactive to proactive environmental management. As global attention turns toward nature-based solutions and responsible resource stewardship, M-MAP stands as a model for how cross-sector collaboration and genomic innovation can deliver sustainable impact at scale.

Read more about the M-MAP initiative on the Digital Supercluster website.